Winter was in the air and the lake was beginning to show signs of frost.

“Time for us aquatic animals to move to warmer waters of the lake down south,” said Delma.

“I like winter,” chirped Dazel. “It means change and change is always good.”

“Well, if you put it that way,” Din Din grimaced. “I don’t like the cold too much. Thank goodness the Fruit Park is not as cold as the lake. When will we see you again, Delma?”

“You guys can come visit me anytime,” Delma replied.

“Winter is also a time when we get a lot of guests in Fruit Park and the surrounding areas. The animals who can’t take the cold look for some warm empty caves,” Din Din said. “Dr Trish has instructed us to welcome these animals who are looking for shelter and have come from the colder mountainous areas.”

“There are many creatures which hibernate during these cold months,” Dazel shared. “Skunks, bees, snakes, bears and bats to mention a few.”

The evening passed merrily as the three friends prepared for Delma to go down south for the next few weeks when the cold would be biting. When the sun was beginning to set, Din Din bid farewell to his best friends and trudged towards his cave home at the Fruit Park hoping to hit the sack early. The next day was a school day and he wanted to be well rested.

“These long winter walks make me tired and hungry,” he mused, hoping that a bowl of his mother’s steaming hot vegetable soup was awaiting him for supper. But Din Din was not able to find the relaxing evening he desired as he was taken aback to find the Fruit Park in uproar.

“There’s a large grizzly bear in one of the caves,” yelped Dave, Din Din’s younger brother. They were looking at the crowd surrounding one of the caves on the outskirts of Fruit Park.

“A grizzly bear?” asked Din Din in amazement. “What’s a grizzly bear doing in this part of D’Land?” There were a few smaller brown bears who studied at the Terrestrial School but no grizzly bears.

“That’s exactly what everyone is in a frenzy about! This one is supposed to be huge and dangerous! Can’t you hear it growling?” Derek, his other brother, quipped. Sure enough the deep rumbling sound of some creature echoed from within the confines of the cave.

“Here come the dinosaur elders,” pointed a relieved Dave. Sure enough, Dr Trish and even Old Rex, who hardly ever left his cave in the Orange Orchard, were moving towards the crowd.

“Who has seen the bear?” asked Dr Trish.

One of the young stegosaurus, who was Din Din’s neighbour, went up to the leaders. “I have. I was working on one of my paintings this evening and I saw a bear go into the cave. He seems to have come from up north. He has been growling ever since. No one has had the courage to go confront him or ask him what he’s doing here.”

“Please, everyone, go home,” announced Dr Trish in her stern, imposing voice. “All of you gathered here will just add to the problem. The bear is sure to get defensive when he sees such a throng of dinosaurs outside the cave.” No one dared argue with the dinosaur leader and slowly the crowd dispersed.

“Din Din, you stay here,” called out Dr Trish. Din Din had worked with the doctor and her team when the stepwell was being constructed at the Orange Orchard and she knew Din Din was a sensible and responsible creature. “Come with me. We must go inside and see.”

Din Din tried to hide his blushing cheeks. He was pleased at having been singled out for attention by none other than the leader of the dinosaurs. Old Rex insisted on coming along as well despite Dr Trish’s protests. “A good leader leads from the front,” the old tyrannosaurus said.

The three dinosaurs entered the cave. Once their eyes got accustomed to the dim interior they saw a large brown bear pacing the cave. The bear hardly noticed the three visitors.

“Ahem… good evening, young bear,” greeted Old Rex politely. The bear swerved around to face them. “What is it?” he growled.

“Is everything okay?” asked Dr Trish. “Do you think I am okay?” laughed the bear bitterly. “All the other bears are fast asleep hibernating and here I am having trouble falling asleep. How will I spend these long winter months?”

“Do you need to hibernate?” asked Din Din puzzled. “I mean can’t you just survive the winter months being awake?”

“Yes, I need to hibernate. I have never faced this problem before. All bears are in a dormant state or in torpor in winter. Our heart rate becomes extremely low but our body temperature is relatively high, and we don’t eat or release bodily waste. Animals like us hibernate as a way to adapt to our surroundings to survive the cold weather. We hibernate to escape the cold and because food is scarce.”

“We can help you get food. There is plenty in Fruit Park even in the winter months,” suggested Din Din as a gesture of goodwill.

“It’s not just the food,” the bear growled in agitation. “I am restless. My body tells me I should sleep; my mind is restless. I just can’t seem to relax. I’ve been trying for a week. It was so cold up in the mountains that finally, I had to come down here seeking for a more comfortable climate.” “You are most welcome in Fruit Park,” Dr Trish said. “But I might be able to give you a relaxing herb or medicine to help you fall asleep. You see, I am a healer,” she explained as the bear eyed her suspiciously.

“Could you?” the bear asked hopefully. “Yes, give me a few hours,” Dr Trish replied.

“I’ll stay here with you,” Old Rex offered the bear. “What is your good name?”

“My name is Bosof,” the bear answered. “Din Din, you come with me. I might need some herbs from your garden,” Dr Trish instructed. Din Din followed the doctor.

“I have some lavender and chamomile growing in my garden,” said Din Din. “Go get it. We will have to give Bosof a large dose because he’s a big creature,” Dr Trish said.

Before long, Din Din was helping the triceratops doctor to grind the herbs into a paste. Together the two trekked to the cave where the grizzly bear had taken refuge. The paste was carried on Din Din’s back in a little earthenware pot. But when they entered the cave, they saw Bosof snoring gently.

“He’s asleep!” cried Din Din in amazement.

“How did you manage to put him to sleep, Sir?” asked Dr Trish, eyeing Old Rex in admiration.

“I, for one, am mighty offended!” complained the old tyrannosaurus. “I wasn’t trying to put him to sleep. I was telling him about my life here in Fruit Park and how I ended up becoming a leader of the dinosaurs when all of a sudden I realised he had fallen asleep.” Din Din tried to hide his smile.

“Well, there’s nothing like a good story to put someone to sleep,” Dr Trish commented with a twinkle in her eye.

“Hmmph!” growled Old Rex.

“Let’s hope this sleep lasts him a couple of months,” Dr Trish retorted good naturedly.

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